Clapham attack: Armed police raid pizza takeaway where Abdul Ezedi worked after giving update on possible motive
ARMED cops have raided a pizza restaurant where Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi worked.
It was one of two warrants carried out at addresses in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last night.
At around 11pm yesterday, police cordoned off a 200-yard stretch of road outside Best Bite, in Forest Hall, in the north of the city, before armed officers yelled for anyone inside to come out.
They then used a battering ram to gain entry to an upstairs flat.
Detectives spent two hours searching the takeaway and the flat and removed a number of items in evidence bags including the hard drive from the shop's CCTV system while the staff shivered outside in freezing temperatures.
The raid was such a surprise they didn't even have time to grab their coats when they were ushered outside as police searched for Ezedi or any evidence of where he has been holed up since the chemical attack 290 miles away in Clapham, London, almost exactly a week earlier.
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One said: "I have never seen so many police as this ever in my life."
The police finally left around 2am.
No arrests were made and Ezedi remains at large.
The manager of the takeaway said: "This has come up from London. They came and searched and found nothing. That's fine.
"We don't mind. He isn't here."
Staff have previously claimed Ezedi only worked at the takeaway for a few days a year ago but locals reckon he has been there much more recently and had worked there for about 12 months.
The Metropolitan Police said two raids were carried out by armed officers at addresses in Newcastle associated with alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The force said it was a joint operation with Northumbria Police and inquiries and searches continue.
